Reimagining The World From The Atom Up
Almost a year ago to the day, ReGen Ventures was launched out of a realization that we can’t incrementally improve what is fundamentally broken.
When it comes to attempting to overcome the triad of humanity's existential challenges – climate change, biodiversity loss and human health – an incremental approach won’t cut it. Few people believe we can get ourselves out of this self-induced mess. Even fewer believe life can be better — will be better — on the other side. ReGen Ventures exists to prove that we can, and we will.
In recent years, traditional venture capital lost its courageous streak and conformed to investing in mere marginal improvements in existing markets (for example: 10-min grocery delivery; buy now, pay later; digital whiteboards). In order to create the step-changes required to redefine flawed systems we must 1) embrace bold ideas and 2) support those with the ambition to redesign the products, services and systems that shape our daily lives.
Regeneration is a mindset. An intention. A process. It is the positive feedback loop that enables life to sustain and, ultimately thrive. It starts with a desire to contribute more value than we consume in all aspects of life. Over the last two hundred years we’ve been excelling at degeneration, the antithesis of regeneration.
ReGen has conviction that the boldest and most iconic companies of the next several generations will be regenerative. These companies harness exponential breakthroughs in science and technology, insatiable demand, and the greatest talent migration we have ever seen.
Investing in nature’s regeneration is foundational to our economy and modern way of life. To do so is both an imperative and generational investment opportunity. Our economy is underpinned by the biosphere. It is easy to forget that everything around us has its roots in nature. Nature’s raw materials and ecosystem services, that we depend on to survive and thrive, are worth 1.5x the size of global GDP.
It’s up to us to decide if we want to design the path to a place of regeneration, or continue the status quo of degeneration. Importantly, the end goal is not to merely “sustain” what we already have but to evolve our systems and society to create a richer, healthier, more fulfilling life for all. A regenerative future. At ReGen, we invest in technologies that contribute to building that regenerative future today.
Change appears to happen slowly and then all at once. At the mid-way point of 2022, it certainly feels like we are living through a moment on the precipice of “all at once”. We are experiencing accelerating change that is being driven by a convergence of rapid technological innovation, systemic demand shifts, and an unprecedented talent migration.
We are laser-focused on opportunities likely to scale rapidly as technologies and demand converge, transforming entire industries... slowly... then all at once. It is likely that historians will look back on this era as one of unprecedented technological foment—and they will say: everything changed… ReGen exists to make sure it changes for the better!
We invest in companies that are designing and building products and services that meet human needs and enrich daily lives while restoring the planet. So-called “alternatives” shouldn’t suck! They must be better, healthier, faster, and cheaper.
By taking inspiration from nature, amplifying it with creative capacity and growing it with capital we can turn what was once sci-fi into sci-fact. The seemingly impossible, becomes possible. Food out of thin air (Arkeon, Circe). Luxury from waste (Hide). Autonomous weed-destroying robots powered by the sun (Aigen).
Supporting trailblazing entrepreneurs is our reason for being. In our first twelve months we’ve had the great privilege to partner with 21 fearless founders who are building 11 ground-breaking companies across 5 countries. We are perpetually inspired, provoked, and challenged by their efforts.
There is a strong basis for being stubbornly optimistic. We are in command of the one infinite resource, human ingenuity. The only limit is our creativity. Thank you to everyone dedicating their lives to building things that matter, with people who care. We all have a role to play in order to make our shared future a reality. At ReGen, we’re just getting started on our journey to back founders who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, today.
We are at an inflection point where technology, demand and talent is converging like never before. There are boundless economic opportunities in designing and building products, services and systems that make life radically better for all. The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time to start is today. We can no longer afford to wait, today is that “rainy day”.
ReGen is building an ecosystem to amplify entrepreneurship at the forefront of rejecting the status quo. We back founders audacious enough to demand better and courageous enough to reimagine the world from the atom up.
The potential is unbounded — the returns generation-defining.